Petunia plant named &#39;DRAYBAROQU&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  cultivar named ‘DRAYBAROQU’ is disclosed, characterized by a mounded growth habit, very well branched form, medium vigor and an abundance of large pink flowers. The new variety is a  Petunia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Petunia sensu wijsman

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DRAYBAROQU’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Petunia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Petunia varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during September of 2011.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Petunia ‘cv . 11-4751’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Petunia ‘cv. 11-4528’. The new variety was discovered in May of 2012 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2011 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by terminal vegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in May of 2012 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 25 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DRAYBAROQU’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DRAYBAROQU’ as a new and distinct Petunia cultivar:

-   1. Mounded growth habit. -   2. Very well branched plants with medium vigor. -   3. Flowers color is pink. -   4. Flower size is large. -   5. Abundant flowering.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ differ in the following;

-   1. Mounded growth habit, whereas the seed parent has a trailing     growth habit. -   2. Smaller flower size than the seed parent. -   3. Flowers color is pink. The seed parent has purple flowers. -   4. More flowers per plant than the seed parent. -   5. Less vigor plant than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ differ in the following;

-   1. Mounded growth habit, whereas the pollen parent has a ball-shaped     growth habit. -   2. Larger flower size than the pollen parent. -   3. Flowers color is pink. The pollen parent produces flowers that     are pink with dark veins. -   4. More flowers per plant than the pollen parent. -   5. Less compact plant than the pollen parent, with less branches.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ are comparable to the patented commercial variety Petunia ‘DANRAY1’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,974. The two Petunia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DRAYBAROQU’ differs in the following:

-   1. Flower size of this comparator is larger than the flower of the     new variety. -   2. Flower color is white, whereas the new variety has a pink flower. -   3. The plant is very vigorous, whereas the new variety has medium     vigor. -   4. Average branch length of the comparator is longer than branches     of the new variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ can also be comparable to the patented commercial variety Petunia ‘DANRAY2’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,966. The two Petunia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DRAYBAROQU’ differs in the following:

-   1. Flower size of the comparator is larger than the flower of the     new variety. -   2. Flower color of this comparator is darker pink. -   3. The plant is very vigorous, whereas the new variety has medium     vigor. -   4. Average branch length of the comparator is longer than branches     of the new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DRAYBAROQU’ grown in a nursery, in a 13 cm pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 90 days from a rooted cutting. FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flowers. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DRAYBAROQU’ plants grown outdoors and in greenhouse during the Spring, Summer and Autumn, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 20° C. to 35° C. during the day and from 17° C. to 23° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia ‘DRAYBAROQU’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Cutting.         -   Time to initiate roots.—10-14 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous. -   Plant:     -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 60 days from a rooted             cutting.         -   Pot size of plant described.—13 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Mounded.         -   Height.—Approximately 20 cm.         -   Plant spread.—About 50 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Medium.         -   Branching characteristics.—Very well branched.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Quantity of             Primary Lateral Branches: 8 Length of Primary Lateral             Branches: About 25 cm. Form: Cylindrical Diameter: About             0.3 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144 B Texture: Pubescent             Strength: Good.         -   Internode length.—2 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite Quantity: Approximately 25 per             branch. Average Length: 5 cm. Average Width: 2.5 cm. Shape             of blade: Elliptic Apex: Acute Base: Acute Margin: Entire             Texture of top surface: Velvety Texture of bottom surface:             Velvety Aspect: 90 degrees Color: Young foliage upper side:             RHS Yellow-Green 146 B Young foliage under side: RHS             Yellow-Green 146 C Mature foliage upper side: RHS             Yellow-Green 146 A Mature foliage under side: RHS             Yellow-Green 148 B Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color             upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146 B Venation color under             side: RHS Yellow-Green 146 C Petiole: Length: 0.7 cm.             Diameter: 0.3 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 146 A Texture:             Velvety. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring, Summer, and Autumn.         -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—about 30 days.         -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Axillary, single             flower, salverform shape, erect habit.         -   Rate of flower opening.—2 to 3 days from bud to fully opened             flower.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—3-6 days.         -   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant.—About 70.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Bud.—Shape: Tubular Length: 4.5 cm Diameter: About 1 cm             Color: RHS Yellow-green 150 B.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: about 6.5 cm. Length: about 3 cm.             Flower tube diameter at distal end: about 1.5 cm. Flower             tube diameter at proximal end: about 0.4 cm.         -   Petals.—Length from throat: about 3 cm. Width: about 3 cm.             Quantity: 5 Texture: Velvety, upper and lower surfaces Apex:             Blunt Base: Fused Margin: Wavy.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple N 74 B             Lower surface: RHS Purple 75 B Fully opened: Upper surface:             RHS Red-purple 73 A Lower surface: RHS Purple 75 B Flower             throat (inside): RHS White 155 C Flower throat, vein: RHS             Green 143 C Flower tube (outside): RHS Purple 75D Flower             tube, vein: RHS Yellow-Green 144 B Fading Petals fading to:             RHS Red-Purple N74 C.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 Shape: Linear Length:             about 2 cm Width: about 0.4 cm Apex: Rounded Base: Fused             Margin: Entire Texture: velvety Color: Upper Surface: RHS             Yellow-Green 144 A Lower Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 144 B.         -   Peduncle.—Not present.         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 2.5 cm. Diameter: about 0.2 cm.             Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144 B Orientation: Straight, average             angle of attachment 45 degrees.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number (per flower): 5 Filament length: about 2 cm.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Rounded Length: about 0.1 cm Color: RHS             Greyed-Yellow 161 B.         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS Greyed-Yellow 161 D Amount: Abundant.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1 Length: about 2.5 cm Styles:             Length: about 2.0 cm Color: RHS Yellow-green 144 D Stigma:             Shape: Rounded Color: RHS Yellow-green 144 B Ovary Color:             RHS Yellow-green 144 A. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—About 60 light Brown, rounded seeds of             about 0.5 mm diameter, per one brown, conical capsule.             Colors not accurately measured with RHS chart.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests of Petunia             have been observed. Typical well known diseases include:             Botrytis cineria, Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, and             Rhizoctonia species. Typical well known pests include: Leaf             miners, spider mites, thrips and possibly caterpillars.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerates a range between 5° C. to             40° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘DRAYBAROQU’ as herein illustrated and described. 